Signaling-horn, &amp;c.



M. R. HUTCHISON. SIGNALING HORN, 6m.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2, 1905.

' Patented May 3,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

II a M. R. HUTGHISON.

SIGNALING HORN, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 2, 1905. 4

Patented May 3, 1910.

2 SHEETS-811111512.

. llfll IiE ll I l l l l I an uc n lb:

MILLER REESE HUTCHISON,

OF BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK.

SIGNALING-HOB N, 65c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1910;

Application filed October 2, 1905. Serial No. 286,910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Miran-1n Rnssnl-ltzrcnrson, a citizen ofthe United States, and resident of Bronxville, in the county of L \Vestehester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Signaling-Horns, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal horns of the general class employed on automobiles,

launches and other vehidles and conveyances, to which class also belong the various devices described in mv prior application, Ser. No. 278,562, filed September 15, 1905. In 5 said prior application, .I have described various modifications adapted to produce notes or combinations of notes, having any desired degree of musical quality, pleasing to the ear, and capable of use for alarm as well as 0 for amusement. In said prior ap lication,

I have also described the portion at functional and structural characteristics desirable for producing on the bearer an immediate apprehension of physical harm, such effect being more readily produced bv a harsh sound, lacking in musical quality.

Many of the devices and expedients set fort h in that application will be found useful in connection with my present invention, and

any of them ma be used in combination with an desired eatures hereof. Similarly, many 0 the features of my present invention may be used in connection with the devices of said prior a plication.

One of the 0 ects of my present invention is, to modify the shape of the horn, so that it may be arranged closely adjacent the body of the conve ance and, at the same time, may be improve for its urpose as a sound pro- 40 'ector. To this cm, the horn is flattened aterally, so as to have a desired definite relation of vertical and transverse dimensions.

When thus constructed and arranged, the sound has less tendency to spread upwardly,

46 where-it is lost in the. up er air, or downwardly, where it is absor reflected and otherwise broken up or dissipated. At the same time the sound does spread laterally D through an are or zone sufiicicnt for prac- 50 tical purposes. Bein to a great extent limited in upward and ownward spread, the sound is correspondingly more intense di rectly in the. line of movement and for a reasonable distance on each side of such line.

Another object of my invention, is to simplify the ,vibratorattachment emn n e to excite the air column of the horn. This attachment is usually mounted on the end of the horn, in an exposed position, where it is especially subject to shocks, jars, etc. For some reasons it is sometimes very. desirable to eliminate, from such device, all parts which can well be' located elsewhere. To this end the means for producin current fluctuations for vibrating the diaphragm are located on the conveyance, and the msuitable circuit eonncctioiis.

Another object of my invention is, to consolidate and combine the electrical apparatus on automobiles, etc, driven by explosive engines employing sparking mechanism, by utilizing the same battery, and, preferably, the same interrupting means for both sparking coil and born. This arrangement has many advantages of simplicity, reliability and economy. The horn attachment itself is simplified and the certainty of its operation insured, by reason of the fact that the sparking apparatus, being a vital essential. {O the operation of the motor, must be always in operative condition, for otherwise the conveyance will not be in motion and will not be in situations where an alarm is necessary. A separate owr consumed in working the horn is a negligible draft on the storage batteries ordinarily employed for sparking. Furthermore, where a commutator is used to throw the sparking interru ter out of operation except at the proper instant in the c cle of the operation of the motor, the 'soun s from sharp, short not-es, similar in character to those used on locomotives and steamships to signal immediate, imminent danger. Such a succession of blasts, particularly when of the harsh piercing type reviously referred to, is very eil'ective for :1 arm purposes.

Another object of my invention is, to proportion and adapt the parts and to provide suitable means of escape for water or any foreign substances, such as pebbles, dust, etc. which may find their way through the born to the vibrating diaphragm.

Another object of ,my invention is.-to pyovide a special torn; of vibrati circuit t eaker, having an effective lengt much terrupted or pulsatory current fluctuations are supplied to the elect-romagnet through source of energy, either primary or secondary, 18 also obviated, for the amount of the horn are broken up into a. succession of greater than the transverse dimensions of the space it occupies. Such a vibrator may be operated from the sparking battery, by

being included in a shunt connection around the battery alone, instead of around the battery and its sparking interrupter.

in the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 shows the llatlcned horn in side elevation and attached eleetromagnetically operated, diaphragm and casing, in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a diagram of the circuits of the batteries, coil, interrupter, commutator, sparking plugs, etc. combined with and adapted to operate the horn diaphragm.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the born with at tached electromagnetic vibrator, an automobile being shown in dotted lines to illustrate a position in which the horn may be eouveniemlylocated. -Fig. l is a detailed view uf an improved form of vibrating circuit breaker which may he used instead of the sparking coil interrupter, and which ma v be a separate device located in the conveyance, or may be mounted upon and form part. of the circuit of the coil shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary.detail view 'tion showing, the horn provided with drain holes.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, it; will be seen that the horn l is flattened laterally and is preferably not coiled intermtaliate of its length, but is formed of substantially straight line elements. The flattening may be such as tomaite the cross section of the horn an oval. or an ellipse, or, in some cases,

- the flattening may be carried to the extreme shown in Fig. i where the portions 2, 2 are approximately arcs of circles, and the flattened portions 3, are plane surfaces. These plane surfaces may be suii stantially parallel, or may themselves diverge oppositely, at a suitable, preferably small, angle. In any case, it is preferred 'that'the proportions be so worked out, that the larger vertical diameter-of the born. at the month, shall be about 3 or 4 times. the transverse diameter. It is obvious that variations in the rate of divergence of the. horn are possible without .(lei'nlrting from my inventiongbut in this form it is desirable to avoid the open flaring mouth charzurteristic of musical horns and ordinary automobile horns, as such formtends to scatter the sound. This flattened horn is oi. great advantage, especially for automobile purposes, for-two reasons, one structural and the other functional. The structural reason that the flattening of the horn 'greatly simplified the dilliculties of :irrapging a long straighbhorn in a convenient,,sate location onthe frame of the auton'iobile. This form is peculiarly adapted to be snugly secured. .(flUN'E to the body of the vehicle. The. functional advantage as a sounding instrunu-nt that when so formed, the sound is projected tothe greatveyance, to. be 'a particularly meritorious feature of my invention.

The flattened horn may be provided with 30 any desired form of pneumatic, electromagnetic or mechanical reed or diaphragm vibrator for exciting the air column thereof, but it is preferably provided with a casing mounted upon and forming a, closure for 35 the small end of the horn. This casing preferably consists of a cylinder 4, front; cap or closure 5, and rear cap or closure 6,-the former being provided with a screw-thread ed boss, or -nipple, 7, for securing it; to the horn and the rear cap 6 being provided with suitable binding posts 16, 17, for the circuit connictions. Inside of this case, are mounted the diaphragm S, electromagnet- S), buckling spring 10, and so-called resonant diaphragm It, all very much as described in my prior application referred to above. The aashers'liz, l3 and it are'of any suitable lt' derial, preferably non-conducting and water-proof; particularly washer It should be waterproof. The magnet 9 is carriedv by theadjustablebridge piece 15, and may be screwed toward or away from the diaphragm to produce a maximum volume of sound. 'llusoralled resonator diaphragm, or partition. is also adjustable as shown and should be adjusted to such positionas would -result in the maximum reinforcing or amplifying cli'ect.

As the horn is forwardly directed and preferably straight, and as the protecting screen over the end thereof may be omitted or made very coarse, l have found it desirable to provide the cavity 1Q, between the diaphragm and the frontwall 5 of the case -l-, withmcans for escape of water, dirt, etc. which may,by chance,lind their way, through the open end of the born, .to the diaphragm.

For this purpose the holes, which have rel'erred to in myprior ay'iplication as beingsometimes em )lOyed in the front walljof the case, may be located at or near the peripheryrso as to serve as drains for su h space.

Preferably there is only one such hole, as at Ill, and this is located at the lowermost .point. In some casesyas shown in Fig. 1, where it. is desired that the air space 18,

in frontof the diaphragm be uuvented, a single opening,' or passage, at the lowest/ point, of the cavity in front of the dia- 13o phragm, may, by a passage 20, connect with a closed chamber 21,. serving as a trap or drain, in which may collect dist, dirt, water,

' op ning passage 19',

preferable. over the mouth of the horn,

'rcferred to, so that any etc, which may find their way into the dia- This trap may be cleaned through a suitable re Where it IS desired,

phragm cavity. from tune to time morablc closure however, to utilize the opening for the pur ol': removing dirt, water, (lL., without acciunulation, :1 directly as shown in Fig. 5, 1s The protcctinginetallic net 22, is preferably not entirely dispensed with, but is made of coarse mesh, so as to obstruct the sound p050. perinittrug any .as little as possible. It is'preferable to re ulate the size of mesh, and the space 18, )e-

twcen the diaphragm and the front of the the bottom of such or into the trap pebble or similar body, which is capable of passing the mesh casing, and the outlet at space, whether to the air of the screen, will also be capable of passing down throu or 'drain, be large enough to permit h the space between the diaphragm and the casing and out through the drain, in the bottom thereof. In any event it is preferable that the exit openinhg,

t e esca e of any foreign body that may be smad enough to pass through the rest of the oerice.

The electromagnetic vibrator is preferably not provided with an interrupter armature within the case 4, the fluctuations or pulsations of currents being controlled elsewhere, preferably by means located at some suitable point upon the automobile.

One very nnportant feature of my in- I vention consists in utilizing .the sparking battery and its interrupter. as the source of flfiuctual in or ulsatin current for 0 crati D mg the horn. These fluctuations are caused to traverse the elect-romagnet of the vibrator by suitable serial connection 17. As the through binding posts, 16,

low resistance,

coil 9 is preferably of Val approximately 11; to 2 oims, it is quite possible to arrange for throwing the same into circuit in series with the sparking lbattery, interrupter, coil and commutator. Lliut the extra resistance and impedance on the primary of the coil; resulting from such an arrangrment is a disadvantage, and,

morwn'or. tlrhiglf potential disclmrge of the primary of the coil serially through the lmi llt'l 9 is undesitable. For these and other measures, the preferred arrangement. is, to

' C(ll'lfhitt the coil of the clectromagnct 9 in 1a shunt arorud the sparking coil. In Fig.

2. l have shown this arrangement. In said "figure. 31 is the battery commonly cm- '1 played for igniting the motor. As ordinarily arranged. such battery is connected serially through conductors, such as 32, 33,

to toe shaft of the commutator, diagram- 1 the armatur malically indicated at 34; thence through conducting segment 35, brush contact 36, conductor 37, to the primary 39 of the sparking coil thence through conductor .0 and through adjustable stationary contact 43 and conductor 1-2 back to the other pole of the battery. Vl ound upon the core 45 of the induction coil 38, is the secondary, 46,

serially connected through 47 and 48 with the sparking plug terminals 49 and 50.

In order to operatively combine my'electromagnctically operated horn with such a system, it is only necemary to lead a shunt connection, post or conductor 32, or indeed from any point in conductor 3- -3 or 37, to a binding post, 16 or 17, and then to connect a lead 52 from the other binding post on the horn to the vibrator 41. Obviously, other shunt or serial connections may be used as alternatives, provided, of course, that if the connection be serial, a two-way switch is employed, which wi l preserve at all times the continu- 1t tli e sparking coil, so that the sparking function be not interfered with. Such a shunt is controlled by any suitable form of switch, 53, which may be located on the steerin wheel as indicated on Fig. 3, or the contro may be from any desired number of points in the vehicle, after the manner fully set forth in my rior application referred to. If desired, it e electromagnet 9 may be operated from the battery 31 by a shuntloo bridge 15 with its armature in operative relation to the core of the magnet 9 shown in Fig. 1. This compound vibrator consists of a spring 61, suitably supported at 62, and bent or recurred upon itself at 63 and (34. The armature 65 is secured to the free v end thereof,

Forward of the bend 63, on the side of said bend away from the support 62, is secured a sparking plate or terminal 66,

adapted to contact with stationary screw 67 126 rigidly held by, but adjustable in, the fixed support- 68. The magnet coil 60 is connected in series through this contact, so that the circuit is made and broken with each vibration of the armature. contact maker is preferably that shown, though it may be anywhere between the two points 63 and 64;

The free end 'of the vibrator which carries vibrator 41, carrying armature 42, 70

51, from the battery binding 80 of the circuit from the battery through 90 In said ii are the elee- 105 The location of this e is rreferably provided with some kind of a link eonnectimi, freely or slidahly engaging the adjacent reverse portion of the spring, aml provided with a shoulder, or stop of 'solnc kind. adapted to engage said spring, and suddenly and sharply move the same toward the core f the magnet, and thereby break the circuit at. 66. Such a connection is operatively indicated in the drawirgas consisting of a screw 69, threaded into the armature ii,

Furthermore, the proportion of parts and the normal clearance between the armature and the core of the magnet arecapable of great variation. It will be obvious that, by this arrangement, I azn'able to get a great. etteetire length of s n'ing in a comparatively small compass, so that. l-may have a vibratot capable, for instance, of being inclosed in the case 4, and yet which will have at effective lc'ngth practically equal to twice the diameter of suclra case.

In operation, the armature (33 is drawn toward the core when the latter is energized, with a rapidly accelerating motion, and. at

- just the proper point when such movement 1s. most rapid, the shoulder 71 will engage the interm diate lcngth'of spring and break the. circuit at til; with the movement equivalent to a hammer blow, thus etl'ectin g an ex tremely sudden rupture of the circuit. and a correspondingly sharp kick of the coil.

.Vbile l have described the various feitures of my iIH'tl-Itiml with great parti ularity. it is obvious that many equivalents of the various devices and their arrangements are possible. and l do not intend to limit my claims except as therein specified.

v 'bat l claim is:

' 1. In an automobile provided with an explosive motor, igniting apparatus. battery and circu'it. breaker, an alarm couil'irising a laterally flattened horn adjacent the side of said automobile, electromagnetic means exciting said horn. and a circuit therefor connected 'in series with the circuit breaker of said igniting apparatus aml in parallel with the primary of the spark coil thereof.

2. 'An automobile, explosive motor aml igniting apparatus tln-rcfor including a battery, interrupter and coil, in combination with a laterally flattened horn securerl'zuljacent a side of said auton'iobile. clvctrmnagnetically controlled means for exciting said horn and acircuit therefor connected in parallel with said coil.

3.. A conveyance, explosive motor and igtery and circuit break r, in combination with a horn mounted upon said conveyance, elrctronmgneticallv controlled means for exciting said horn and .a circuit. therefor connected in series with said battery and circuit breaker, and in parallel \vith'the sparking coil of said igniting apparatus.

l. A conveyance, explosive motor and igniting apparatus theref r. including a battery, interrupter and coil, in combination with a horn mounted upon said conveyance, electromagnetically controlled means for exciting said horn and a circuit therefor connected in parallel with said coil.

5. A conveyance, explosive motor and electric igniting apparatus therefor including a battery. interrupter, and commutator coil in combination with a horn mounted upon said eonv yam-c, elmtromaguctically operated means for exciting said horn and a circuit therefor connected in parallel withsaid coil and in series with said battery, interrupter and commutator.

U. A convevance. explosive motor and igniting apparatus therefor, including a battery, interrupter, coil and commutator in combination with a horn, electromagnetically operated means for exciting said horn and a circuit therefor connected in series with said battery commutator and circuit breaker.

7. A conveyance, an explosive motor and an igniting apparatus including a circuit therefor. a source of energy therein and means for producing intermittent trains or groups of rapidly recurring variations of the curr nt .t'rom said source in combination with an electromagnetic horuencrgized from said circuit and sounding in svnclu'onism with the llu\\' of current tln-rcthroagh.

R. .\n automobile. explosive motor and igniting a paratus therefor. including a bat,- tery amFa circuit breaker, in cmnbination with a laterally llattcned horn secured adjacent to a side or said automobile. an electro-- magnet and diaphragm for exciting said horn and a circuit therefor, connected in series with the lmtt'ajv and circuit brcakenand in arallel with the sparking coil of said ignitingapparatus.

9. An automobile, explosive motor and igniting apparatus ther for including a battery, interrupter and coil, in combination with laterally flattened horn secured adjacent a side at said automobile, an electromagnet and diaphragm for exciting said h rn and a circuit therefor in parallel with said coil.

-10. eomevancc, explosive motor and 1gni ting apparatus therefor. including a battery and circuit breaker, in combination with a horn mounted upon said conveyance, an electromaguet and diaphragm for exciting said horn and a circuit therefor conn iting' apparatus therefor, including a atnceted in series with said battery and elIClllt breaker,'and in parallel with the Sparking coil of said igniting apparatus.

11. A conveyance, explosive motor and igniting apparatus therefor, includin a bat.- tery, interrupter and coil, in com ination with ahorn mounted upon said conveyance, an clcctromegnet and diaphragm for e):- citing said horn and acirouit therefor con nected in parallel with said coil.

12. A conveyance, explosive motor and electric igniting apparatus therefor includin a battery, interrupter, commutator and coil, in connection with a horn mounted upon said conveyance, an electromagnet and diaphragm, for exciting said horn and ,a circuit thwefor connected in parallel with said coil and in series with said battery, interrupter and commutator;

13. A conveyance, ex )lOSlVc motor and igniting apparatus there or, including a battery, circuit breaker, coil and commutator in combination with a born, elcctromagnet and diaphragm for ezrcitin said horn, and a circuit therefor connected in series with said battery and circuit, breaker, and in parallel with the sparking mil of said igniting apparatus.

14. A comeyance, an explosive motor, an igniting apparatus therefor and a source of varying electric currents in series with said 'i niting apparatus, in combination with an eleetromagnet, diaphragm and horn, and means for serially connecting the electromagnetwith said source of varying electric currents. p

15. In an alarm for conveyances, a horn adapted to be mounted in a forwardly directed position, a casing mounted on the rear and smaller end of the born, a diaphragm spanning said casing and spaced away from the rear end of the horn and means for re.- moving matter entering the forward end of the horn and passing to the space in front of the diaphragm. V

16. In an alarm for conveyances, a horn adapted to be mounted in a forwardly directed position, diaphragm-sound producing means at its rear and smaller end and :1. casing inclosin said rear end and said diaphragm, suit casing being provided in a for ward wall with an ori ce communicating with the space in front of the diaphragm.

17. In a conveyance, a forwardly directed horn and a diaphragm closure and casing mounted on its rear and smaller end, said casing having a vertical wall on its fore end provided witha drain orifice.

.18. In a conveyance, a forwardly directed horn, a diaphragm and casing closure mounted on its rear and smaller end, said casing being provided with a drain orifice and a discharge chamber for saidorifice.

- 19. In a conveyance, a forwardly directed born, a diaphragm containing easing mounted on the rear and smaller end of the horn,

said casing being provided with a drain orificc, and a. removable closure for the drain orifice.

20. In a conveyance, a forwardly directed, substantially straight horn, and a iaphragm and easing closure mounted on the smaller end of the horn, said casing being provided with an orifice for the discharge of matters entering the front end of said born.

:31. In a conveyance, a forwardl directed, substantially straight horn, a diaphragm and easing c osure mounted on'the rear an smaller end of the horn, said casing bein provided with a drain opening, and a close discharge chamber for said drain opening.

22. A. vibratory acoustic diaphragm and a case secured over the front of said diaphragm and formed with an o eni or passsage for propagation ofsoun tO iiG outer air, the space in front of the diaphra between it and the case being rovided iid iacent the periphery of the diap ragm with an opening or passage for escape of water, dust, and solid articles;

A vibratory acoustic diaphragm and a case secured over the front of said diaphra gm and formed with an openin or passage for propagation of sound to t -e outer air, the space in front of the diaphra m between it and the case being rovide adjacent the periphery of the diaphragm with an opening or passage for escape of water, dust, and solid particles, together with a closed trap or chamber below said opening.

24. An acoustic vibratory member, a resonator therefor, and an enlarged chamber adjacent said vibratory member and between it and said resonator, said chamber being provided with a small opening for the escape of water, dust, and particles.

25. In a conveyance, a forwardly directed horn, a diaphragm secured to the rear end of said born by a case having a front wall approximately parallel with said diaphragm, said parts being formed with an opening adjacent the periphery of the diap iragm for the escape of water, dust. and solid particles.

26. An alarm or signaling device adapted for use in exposed situations, comprising a horn having a diaphragm mounted at its smaller end and an mcl sing casing for said diaphragm and smaller end, said casing being provided with a discharg orifice com-c municating with the space before the die- -phragm. 2-7. An-alarm or signaling device adapted for use in exposed situations, comprising a substantially straight horn, and a diaphra closure and easing mounted on its smal er end, said casing being provided with a dis charge opening.

28. An alarm or signaling device adapted for uscin exposed situations comprising a straight tube or horn having slightly diverging side walls and of flattened cross section. a casing of larger (limmwinns than the smaller vial of thc luirn munntmi on HllVll smaller and, and a diaphragm and mvans for vihrating the. same within said raring. said casing lining provided with a ilisrhhargr Orifice in a frontwall in line with a major axis of said horn, Said orifice wnnnuniralin; will] the space hctwc'vn thc diaphragm and the said front wall of the asing.

29. In a cnnrqvanvo, a snhaalnially straight, fnrwardly (iii-cried horn. :1 diaphr gm and case at the rvar and of said horn, forming an airtight closure ilwr -l'ur, said (filSt living pruviih-il with a lll';.lll 01a!!- ing hauling tlwrufrmn and an airtight vhamhvr so in: as a diwhargc -ha1nhvr and CluSlllO for said drain.

30. In .1 ronvqn-nure, a Yvriirall ilvrp and laterally shallow horn having a I'mll dircciml nnailh, cm'rosprnnlillg' Ail-as of said horn (livvrging \mmetri -all r. a closed casing inrlusing the rear and of mid horn. a scaling (liaphragn'i spanning l'hv rasin; lKllllHl Hm ranand of lho horn. tHHl oloclrumagneii0 mvai s for actuating Haul diaphragm luraicd within the casing. said ilianhrag'm ia-ing hwah-(l r nnmvhal h himl (ha l-var (n l M 1. 1" lnrrn and lhv frmn' \;all nl' 1hr i'asii'iu and aairl casing livingmurals- 1 with an nrilivv fur lhv (lisrhargu Hf l'nrr'ign math-r vmnnnmiraling with llH chainhur l-hns l'm'niml. I

31. In a ('(Ill\'(f}'lll1'(, a l OlWVflHlly illl'CCiiW! hm'll. a vaniap; in luhing ihu rrar rial nl' 3am lmrnhml (if :nawwhal grvatir (hainatmg-an imporfurahdiaphragm wHhm ainl spam nins: i110 rhamhwr Hi the rasing aml spare: harl; If iii; I'uruaril wall anal 1 |n,':|ninr m-lnaiinz: sairl iliap aramn in mail haul "-annnls :nnlwihmhfun-3L1 Hilltl rat-inf; hang; n'n- \'l(l('(l with a ilt -hargv urilirv ml'rrri gn maHvr winnmnilrating wilh Haspar h0- h'im'n said diaphragm and llai'nrwaril wall of the casing.

Sigma! al Xuw Yurk (-iiy, in ilk mainly 0f 

